Mitchell takes up new post with Waikato

Former All Blacks coach John Mitchell yesterday signed a three-year contract to coach his home province Waikato and landed a separate deal to provide coaching services to the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Mitchell, who lost the All Blacks job to Graham Henry following the team's Rugby World Cup semi-final loss to Australia, was also cleared by the NZRU of "inappropriate behaviour" over rumours relating to his female personal assistant, who was abruptly sent home from Australia during the World Cup.

NZRU chief executive Chris Moller said: "He has demonstrated a great deal of maturity by remaining in NZ rugby after what must have been a huge disappointment in not being re-appointed as All Blacks coach."

Mitchell said the new post would allow him to consolidate his coaching career after a "whirlwind apprenticeship".

"Now I've got an opportunity to commit myself to an area that I have an emotional connection with and consolidate my coaching career over a long term," he told NZ's Radio Sport.